Looking for an elliptical/stepper combo that is big on features and small on footprint and price? In this review of the ProForm Pro HIIT H14, we outline why it is the best option for elliptical and stepper combo machines on the market.
- The Key Specs
- The Pros
- The Cons
- ProForm Pro HIIT H14 vs. ProForm Carbon HIIT H10
- ProForm Pro HIIT H14 vs. Bowflex Max Trainer M9
- The Bottom Line
The ProForm Pro HIIT H14 is a killer elliptical and stepper combo machine that is designed for people serious about doing interval training.
The increased difficulty of the stepping stride, combined with the low-impact nature of the elliptical stride path, make it an absolute monster for doing sweaty HIIT workouts.
But is the Pro HIIT H14 the right elliptical machine for you and your workout goals?
After all, this machine isn’t going to be for everyone.
In this review of the ProForm Pro HIIT H14, we take it for a ride/stride, discuss the things we love about it, our call-outs, and compare it to the competition.
By the end, you will have a crystal-clear idea whether the Pro HIIT H14 is the right cardio machine for helping you crush your fitness goals.
Let’s jump right in.
ProForm Pro HIIT H14 Elliptical Trainer – Key Specs
- Price: $1,799
- 30lb flywheel
- 26 levels of resistance
- 325lb weight capacity
- Machine weight: 224lb
- 30-day iFIT subscription included ($39 per month after)
- Warranty: 10 years (frame), 2 years (parts), 1 year (labor)
ProForm Pro HIIT H14 Elliptical Trainer – The Pros
As you can guess by the name of the machine, it’s designed for HIIT workouts. The increased vertical path on the stride makes it a stepper and elliptical combo machine that takes the best of both types of machines.
You get the low-impact nature of an elliptical trainer with the increased difficulty of a stepper.
For people who are ready to chase down their fitness and health goals in a serious way, the Pro HIIT H14 will give you a legit workout each time you step on it.
Cardio machines have come a long way in recent years with screens and programming options, and the Pro HIIT H14 is a sterling example of this.
The Pro HIIT has a massive 14” HD touchscreen that is crisp and delivers all of the online training options you can think of with an iFit subscription.
One of the key benefits of elliptical and stepper combo machines is that they have a much smaller footprint compared to regular elliptical trainers and other cardio machines for weight loss like treadmills and rower ergs.
The footprint of the Pro HIIT H14 is just 52” x 29”, which is about 30” inches less in depth compared to regular-sized ellipticals.
For people who are short on space for their workout gear at home, the Pro HIIT H14 is a killer choice.
Elliptical and stepper combo machines are not cheap. Compared to the cost of other elliptical machines, they trend towards the higher end of the price bracket.
The ProForm Pro HIIT is significantly cheaper than comparable machines on the market, making it a budget-friendly stepper and elliptical combo for home gyms.
And the best part is that the Pro HIIT actually outperforms more expensive machines in terms of features, as well.
(More on how the Pro HIIT compares to similar machines in a bit.)
The first thing that I noticed when hopping onto the H14 was just how sturdy it was. The thing is built like an absolute tank, with the machine weighing in at 224lbs.
More noticeably, the flywheel on this machine is a whopping 30lbs, which is one of the heaviest on the market. I recommend people, especially larger individuals such as myself, opt for ellipticals that have a flywheel of 20lb or heavier.
The Pro HIIT H14 easily exceeds that recommendation, and the result is a noticeably smooth and stable striding experience, no matter how hard you are hitting those HIIT workouts.
ProForm Pro HIIT H14 Elliptical Trainer – The Cons
While there are a lot of things to really like about the HIIT H14, it’s not going to be the perfect machine for everyone.
Here are the main things that people should know before investing in this machine:
The Pro HIIT H14 is not ideal for people with bad knees.
The Pro HIIT H14 is not a machine for people with bad knees.
One of the main reasons I recommend elliptical trainers to people with bad knees is that the low-impact nature combined with the gentle horizontal path doesn’t place undue stress on the knees.
This benefit largely evaporates with elliptical/stepper combos.
The Pro HIIT H14 is mostly a stepper (it has 10” of vertical stride path and just 5” of horizontal stride), making it less ideal for people who have bad knees, and who are better off with a purely horizontal elliptical machine.
Not really worth it if you aren’t using the iFIT subscription.
If you plan on using the online classes and programs, the Pro HIIT H14 is awesome. But if you don’t want to spring for the monthly subscription, the Pro HIIT is not worth the investment.
At nearly $1,800, having a big HD screen that just shows you striding around an oval track on a manual training program is a bit of a waste of tech (and money).
There are cheaper machines that can give you the same robust workout experience with a basic LCD screen to track your workout.
No media tray.
Finally, one of the things that really surprised me about this machine is that it doesn’t have a media tray or ledge for propping up a smartphone or tablet.
For people who want to use the manual mode and watch a movie or read a book on their tablet (or read a paper book), they will be disappointed to see that the Pro HIIT doesn’t have a media tray or ledge.
Storing my smartphone on the machine during workouts and keeping it within reach meant using the water bottle holder.
ProForm Pro HIIT H14 vs. ProForm Carbon HIIT H10
The Pro HIIT is the premier stepper/elliptical machine in ProForm’s lineup. ProForm also makes a slightly paired-down version, the Carbon HIIT H10.
The footprint and maximum user weight are identical, but the Carbon HIIT has a smaller screen (10” vs 14”), less resistance levels (24 vs 26), and costs about $300 less.
Here is a closer look at how the two machines perform and differ:
Pro HIIT H14Carbon HIIT H10
Price$1,799$1,403
Screen14” HD touchscreen10” HD touchscreen
Footprint52” x 29”52” x 29”
Resistance levels2624
Max user weight325lbs325lbs
ProForm Pro HIIT H14 vs. Bowflex Max Trainer M9
The closest competitor to the ProForm Pro HIIT in terms of price and functionality is the Bowflex Max Trainer M9.
Although the Pro HIIT is $200 cheaper, it actually outperforms the M9 in several key feature categories, including a way bigger screen (14” vs 10”), more resistance levels (26 vs 20), and increased maximum user weight (325lbs vs 300lbs).
The Pro HIIT H14 is also significantly heavier than the Max Trainer M9, giving larger users more stability when exercising on the H14.
Here is how the Pro HIIT and Max Trainer M9 stack up against one another:
Pro HIIT H14Max Trainer M9
Price$1,799$1,999
Screen14” HD touchscreen10” HD touchscreen
Footprint52” x 29”49” x 30”
Resistance levels2620
Max user weight325lb300lb
Machine weight224lb148lb
The Bottom Line
Anyone who has tried working out at home knows how difficult it can be to stay on track and motivated.
Especially when there are countless distractions at home, from the dog giving you puppy eyes to chores that need to be done to family members vying for your attention.
But when you have the right cardio machine that aligns with your workout goals, things can quickly start to fall into place.
The ProForm Pro HIIT H14 is a serious elliptical/stepper machine that means business. It gives you the accelerated calorie burn of using a stepper with the huge array of online classes and workouts via iFit and that glorious and crisp 14” HD touchscreen.
The person that loves doing online classes, wants the added challenge of a stepper/elliptical combo, and doesn’t want to pay a premium for the bells and whistles of an elite elliptical, will love and get the most use from the Pro HIIT H14.
To recap…
The ProForm Pro HIIT H14 is perfect for people who:
- Love doing interval training
- Want a compact-sized cardio machine
- Get motivated by online classes and workouts
- Want a premium stepper/elliptical combo without the premium price tag
+ 14" HD touchscreen
+ Perfect for HIIT workouts
+ 26 levels of resistance
+ Heavy-duty flywheel for smooth stride
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